title: Evaluation of the thoracodorsal artery as an alternative conduit for coronary bypass.
abstract: Complete coronary revascularization using arterial grafts has been performed recently because of their improved patency rates. However, as the need to repeat coronary bypass surgery has become more frequent, it can be difficult to find adequate conduits for further bypass surgery. Therefore, we investigated the use of the left thoracodorsal artery (LTDA) as an alternative bypass conduit. The length from its origin, internal diameter, and number and location of branches were angiographically measured in 16 patients, and in situ blood flow volume and external diameter were intraoperatively measured in 8. Moreover, each specimen of the LTDA, the internal thoracic artery (ITA), and the inferior epigastric artery (IEA) were evaluated histologically. We found that the thoracodorsal artery has the same diameter as the ITA angiographically, and the same histological findings as the IEA. In conclusion, the thoracodorsal artery may be useful as a coronary arterial graft.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Niigata University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohzeki
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Funazaki
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D013895:Thoracic Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000637:transplantation*